Lamp Replacement Checks

• When changing lamps, always clean the tanning unit thoroughly.
• Dirty reflectors and acrylics can significantly reduce the useful UV performance of the lamps.
• Check the acrylic quality. Poor quality, "cheap" acrylics, or 'yellow, cracked, badly degraded acrylics can block 70% or more of the UVB radiation of the lamps from reaching your skin. This can make a new lamp appear to perform like one that has reached end-oflife.
• Check the lamp sockets. Be sure that the lamps are snug in the lamp sockets. Replace any that show worn springs or loose contacts. Poor lamp contacts can cause difficulty in lamp starting, shorten lamp life, cause premature end blackening, and possible electrical arcing at the lamp ends.
• Change the lamp starters regularly. Generally most bed manufacturers recommend changing the starters every other lamp replacement. A worn out two dollar starter can quickly destroy a twelve dollar lamp.
  
  

Lamp Operation

• Periodically check lamp cleanliness. Most units have an air-cooling system for the lamps, which ends up being a giant vacuum cleaner for room dirt. The dirt build up on the lamps can have a significant effect on lamp intensity.
• Check that the cooling system for the lamps is operating properly. Without proper airflow, a lamp can lose intensity. A lamp running 20 - 30 degrees too hot (or too cold) can lose as much as 35% of it's maximum output intensity.
• Monitor your lamp intensity. Purchase a UV monitor and develop a history of UV readings. Check your lamps both with and without acrylics so you can follow the degradation of the acrylics. Also, periodically check the lamp intensity so you can monitor the depreciation of the lamps during use. Keep in mind, that most meters cannot be used to compare lamps with different spectral properties. Generally lamps are replaced at about 30% loss from their initial intensity. This will vary by lamp design